Resources for Families

There are several programs and resources at the City of Cambridge that support young people who have disabilities.

The Cambridge Program

The Cambridge Program for Individuals with Special Needs is open to Cambridge residents with intellectual disabilities who are 11 years old and older. The program offers recreational activities and life skills several times a week that are designed to promote self-esteem, encourage social interaction, and increase physical well-being, all with a focus on understanding our differences. In addition to activities, participants enjoy a variety of field trips and many compete in the Massachusetts Special Olympics. 

The program runs during the school year, September - June. It is offered by the Department of Human Service Programs' Recreation division.

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Photo Caption: The "Senior Play area" at the DePasquale Universal Design Playground includes a wheelchair-accessible ramp to enter a play tower. It also has a slide with horizontal tubing that users can feel and hear while sliding. 

Camp Rainbow

Camp Rainbow is an annual summer camp serving Cambridge young people with disabilities, ages 6-22. Camp Rainbow's mission is to enhance the lives of its participants by providing a recreational experience that emphasizes their abilities. Participants enjoy a variety of experiences, including outdoor activities, swimming, arts & crafts, and cooking. Camp Rainbow takes field trips to local attractions (mini golf, bowling, zoos, farms, and more) every Wednesday of camp sessions.

• Camp sessions are offered in July and August each year. Applications are accepted in April for the upcoming summer.

Camp Rainbow is offered by the Department of Human Service Programs' Recreation division.

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The Inclusion Initiative 

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) prioritizes the inclusion of children with disabilities in the department's K-8 Out-of-School-Time programs. DHSP's Inclusion Initiative team works in providing support to families, caregivers, and City staff to ensure that all children enrolled in DHSP afterschool or summer programs receive the support needed to actively and safely participate. When a child with disabilities is offered a seat at a DHSP afterschool or summer program, Inclusion Initiative staff work with the child's family or caregivers to fully understand their needs. The Inclusion Initiative determines whether reasonable accommodations would support the child's success in an Out-of-School-Time program. If so, Inclusion Initiative staff coordinate with DHSP staff to implement them.

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Community Resources for Families

Find It Cambridge is an online resources that helps residents and families easily find activities, services, and resources in Cambridge. This includes a variety of helpful resources for the disabilitiy community, including health and wellness-specific resources and resources for young children, elementary school-aged children, and young people in middle and high school. 

To explore all resources on Find It, visit www.finditcambridgema.org.

Louis A. DePasquale Univeral Design Playground

Located at Danehy Park, 66 Field St. Parking lot with accessible parking spaces on-site.

The 30,000 sq. ft. play area is the first playground in Cambridge to fully incorporate universal design across all of its play structures, with the goal of making it a fun and safe place for children with a range of physical, sensory, cognitive, and emotional abilities to enjoy.

Features include:

• A Swing Zone and Spin Zone with wheelchair-accessible features
• A Junior Play area features a train-shaped play structure with climbing features and a double slide.
• A Senior Play area that includes a tower, sliding bars, and a slide. People can access the tower by walking across an elevated bridge, climbing up a ladder, or using sliding bars. Visitors can also use a talk-tube network to send messages to different parts of the structure.
• Slides have horizontal tubing – a sensory feature that people can feel and hear when sliding.
• A Sensory Walk Zone featuring a pathway designed with bands of crushed stone, concrete, and granite pavers. Whether or not someone uses a mobility device, they experience tactile and auditory responses from the changing textures. Plantings on either side of the pathway engage the senses of smell, sight, and touch.
• A "Sensory Hilltop," reached through an accessible, labyrinth-style pathway. The Hilltop's wooden features, designed by Cambridge artist Mitch Ryerson, are constructed from Black Locust wood, which is resistant to rot and splintering. The "Sensory Hilltop" includes log steppers, a wooden marimba where visitors can experiment with sound, and benches with 3D animal-shapes that invite tactile exploration.
• A Splash Pad that offers waterplay fun in the summer months. It includes junior and senior play features and seating for observers.
• Poured in Place (PIP) Rubber Surfacing covers the ground between play structures, the Swing and Spin Zones, the Climbing Slope, and the Sensory Hilltop, creating a cushioned, non-slip surface that provides protection from falls and is smooth for people who use mobility devices.

The playground is maintained by the Department of Human Service Programs' Recreation division. 

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Photo Caption: The "Senior Play area" at the DePasquale Universal Design Playground includes a wheelchair-accessible ramp to enter a play tower. It also has a slide with horizontal tubing that users can feel and hear while sliding.